W221 Lowering Links ADVICE ?
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S350L
W221 Lowering Links ADVICE ?
Hi Guys,
I've recently fitted the airmatic lowering links to my S350L, it is sitting on 20" Vossens and i've dropped it using the links approx 35mm all round.
I was wondering how much these vehicles self lower at highway speeds???
I'm asking because i'm worried if i have lowered it too much, i dont want the car to self lower too much at highway speeds and cause thousands worth of damage. The place i purchased them from did advice that the amount it self lowers at highway speeds should be taken into consideration when lowering it
I've recently fitted the airmatic lowering links to my S350L, it is sitting on 20" Vossens and i've dropped it using the links approx 35mm all round.
I was wondering how much these vehicles self lower at highway speeds???
I'm asking because i'm worried if i have lowered it too much, i dont want the car to self lower too much at highway speeds and cause thousands worth of damage. The place i purchased them from did advice that the amount it self lowers at highway speeds should be taken into consideration when lowering it
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S350L
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2016 C300
If Airmatic is set at "Comfort" and you exceed 80mph it drops it to "Sport" height. I don't think it drops at all from Sport height. I believe it will remain at Sport height until the car is restarted. Remember to get an alignment whenever you alter the ride height. It's best to try a setting and live with it for awhile and then get the alignment once you're done playing with it.
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From: Newyork
s550 Diamond white amg pano
cant the dealer also lower it a bit? With the star computer? I drive it in sport and after I swap the wheels id like to do a light drop maybe 1/2 inch to an inch.
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S350L
If Airmatic is set at "Comfort" and you exceed 80mph it drops it to "Sport" height. I don't think it drops at all from Sport height. I believe it will remain at Sport height until the car is restarted. Remember to get an alignment whenever you alter the ride height. It's best to try a setting and live with it for awhile and then get the alignment once you're done playing with it.
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2016 C300
STAR can get you an inch if you can find a shop willing to do it. You're basically feeding the controller false ride height sensor data to "trick" the controller. Most dealers won't do it unless you already have a relationship with them.
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From: Newyork
s550 Diamond white amg pano
well im sure they'll do it, there 3 large benz dealers within 20 miles of me plus I have access to a master tech w star computer if need be. hmm If I can get a inch from that what would be the benefit of the links?
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From: USA
W140 Mercedes S350, W221 S550 sport
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2016 C300
If you do the STAR drop and aren't satisfied then you're out what you spent on a STAR drop plus the cost of the links. It usually takes more than an inch to make any real visual impact.
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From: Toronto, Canada
2011 Mercedes S63 AMG
I don't think they'd go much lower than 30mm. These aren't Honda's, you wouldn't want to bottom this car out. There is a lot of plastic and dampening material under the car to prevent road noise and keep the cabin quiet. I personally think if its too low it looks riced out. A drop just above the tire looks nice and aggressive.
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From: Newyork
s550 Diamond white amg pano
I don't think they'd go much lower than 30mm. These aren't Honda's, you wouldn't want to bottom this car out. There is a lot of plastic and dampening material under the car to prevent road noise and keep the cabin quiet. I personally think if its too low it looks riced out. A drop just above the tire looks nice and aggressive.
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Joined: Aug 2014
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From: Toronto, Canada
2011 Mercedes S63 AMG
If you want you can get a lowering module that plugs into the ECU and tricks the car into lowering itself. I got the carlsson lowering module, im getting it installed after I come back from vacation.
Senior Member
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From: Toronto, Canada
2011 Mercedes S63 AMG
I got my Carlsson off eBay. I seen stores selling it for $1700. I got mine for $300. Costs about the same for installation
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2016 C300
Yeah, around $1500 new. There's an install video on YouTube that shows the whole install...plug and play...
The links are inexpensive and fairly easy to install. Jack up a front wheel for some space to work. Disconnect the OEM link from the upper control arm and the sensor (it just pops off and on. No tools required.) Set the length of the new links (the longer they are vs OEM the more the car drops). Pop it back on. Repeat for the other front. On the rears there's a single link situated over the rear diff so you have to crawl under there with a light. On the rear link, it goes opposite...shorter link equals more drop.
Drive the car around the block to give the controller time to figure out what the F you've done and then the car will self level at the new height.
Adjustible Air Ride (AAR) links have to come off the car to make height adjustments, which are inevitable. Ghost Links can be adjusted while still connected.
Once you've found the sweet spot on height vs ride degradation and bottom-outs on bumps and highway expansion gaps, get a 4 wheel alignment to prevent premature tire wear.
Finally, when you're done admiring how cool the car looks while simultaneously hating how it rides, put the links on EBay.
The links are inexpensive and fairly easy to install. Jack up a front wheel for some space to work. Disconnect the OEM link from the upper control arm and the sensor (it just pops off and on. No tools required.) Set the length of the new links (the longer they are vs OEM the more the car drops). Pop it back on. Repeat for the other front. On the rears there's a single link situated over the rear diff so you have to crawl under there with a light. On the rear link, it goes opposite...shorter link equals more drop.
Drive the car around the block to give the controller time to figure out what the F you've done and then the car will self level at the new height.
Adjustible Air Ride (AAR) links have to come off the car to make height adjustments, which are inevitable. Ghost Links can be adjusted while still connected.
Once you've found the sweet spot on height vs ride degradation and bottom-outs on bumps and highway expansion gaps, get a 4 wheel alignment to prevent premature tire wear.
Finally, when you're done admiring how cool the car looks while simultaneously hating how it rides, put the links on EBay.
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From: Here
W221/S550
I was wondering how much these vehicles self lower at highway speeds???
I'm asking because i'm worried if i have lowered it too much, i dont want the car to self lower too much at highway speeds and cause thousands worth of damage. The place i purchased them from did advice that the amount it self lowers at highway speeds should be taken into consideration when lowering it
I'm asking because i'm worried if i have lowered it too much, i dont want the car to self lower too much at highway speeds and cause thousands worth of damage. The place i purchased them from did advice that the amount it self lowers at highway speeds should be taken into consideration when lowering it
Last edited by Garticus; Mar 6, 2015 at 06:54 PM.
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2016 C300
A drop extensive enough to make a difference will degrade the ride quality. It'll stiffen quite a bit and you'll feel a lot more of everything in the seats and in the wheel. Basically it loses the isolation of the air ride and feels like a conventional car. I'm not talking about slamming...just closing the fender gap.
Setting the AirMatic to "Sport" drops the car and retains the ride quality. Not as visually dramatic though.
Setting the AirMatic to "Sport" drops the car and retains the ride quality. Not as visually dramatic though.
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2016 C300
Yeah, my last 220. It was heartbreaking too because it looked so damn good, but it rode hard and developed all sorts of weird vibrations and shudders that shouldn't have anything to do with the drop but immediately went away when the ride height was restored.
You see pics of the dropped S Class on 22's and they all look great but you can't drive a picture. Personally, on your car I'd do 20's and then maybe the S65 body kit and I'd be very happy.
You see pics of the dropped S Class on 22's and they all look great but you can't drive a picture. Personally, on your car I'd do 20's and then maybe the S65 body kit and I'd be very happy.
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2013
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2007 Mercedes S550
I lowered mine using links about 2in and I was worried about rubbing since I am on 22s. I have some slight rubbing through large dips but other than that ride quality wasn't really affected even with 25 series tires. The only major issue was that I needed to get my front fenders rolled because the tires would catch on the lip on certain turns. It seems like the car accommodates for passenger weight and it does lower at highway speeds. I am looking into an adjustable module because it does seem like the best option if it can get me the drop that I want.
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Joined: Aug 2014
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From: Toronto, Canada
2011 Mercedes S63 AMG
Here check these:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Carlsson-C-Tronic-Module-Lowering-Kit-Mercedes-S-Class-W221-07-/300928150515?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4610b72bf3&vxp=mtr
http://www.ebay.com/itm/RENNtech-Merceces-Benz-ABC-Airmatic-Suspension-Lowering-Module-/321635003580?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4ae2f0acbc&vxp=mtr
http://www.ebay.com/itm/RENNtech-v3-Lowering-Module-S550-S63-S65-AMG-Cl63-Cl65-Cl550-221-216-Mercedes-S-/161608050476?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item25a097272c&vxp=mtr
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Carlsson-C-Tronic-Module-Lowering-Kit-Mercedes-S-Class-W221-07-/300928150515?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4610b72bf3&vxp=mtr
http://www.ebay.com/itm/RENNtech-Merceces-Benz-ABC-Airmatic-Suspension-Lowering-Module-/321635003580?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4ae2f0acbc&vxp=mtr
http://www.ebay.com/itm/RENNtech-v3-Lowering-Module-S550-S63-S65-AMG-Cl63-Cl65-Cl550-221-216-Mercedes-S-/161608050476?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item25a097272c&vxp=mtr
